Compiling a survey of American short stories is a balancing act between making selections based on well-reasoned personal preference and attempting to be inclusive of various schools of writing or regional or ethnic backgrounds (among other possible criteria). Happily The Oxford Book of American Short Stories editor Joyce Carol Oates, a prolific writer of novels and short stories, is a hybrid of fan, writer and academic and well-suited to the task. "Familiar names, unfamiliar titles" is her inspiration, and she's provided a roster of authors that is both inclusive and rooted in the desire to showcase some of the best stories Americans have to offer.
With some of her selections, the "unfamiliar titles" edict is not so easy--how do you choose a lesser-known excellent Edgar Allan Poe story?--and sometimes she bypasses the rare gemstones for the diamonds: Ernest Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants," for example, or Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery." The late 20th and early 21st centuries are well-represented, including contributions from Donald Barthelme, Philip Roth, Stephen King, Ha Jin, Lorrie Moore and David Foster Wallace. Oates provides introductions to each story with a brief biography, thoughts on why the writer's style is notable and details about the particular story was chosen for inclusion. While this book is most likely to wind up in the hands of students, there's a lot here to recommend to readers in general. --Matthew Tiffany, counselor, writer for Condalmo